Atlantic

Tyne Coble Lost And All Hands Drowned
A Schooner Ashore At The South Pier
Terrific Gale On The North-East Coast
Damage of Property At South Shields

Sketch of AtlanticThis afternoon, a violent gale broke over this district, and was severely felt at the mouth of the Tyne. The barometer was exceptionally low this morning, and a storm of some severity was therefore anticipated. The weather had been squally from early morning, but there were intervals of sunshine during the forenoon. About two o'clock this afternoon, however, the gale assumed alarming force, and during some of the heavy squalls much damage was done to house property. At quarter-past two o'clock the alarm guns were fired as the signal that a vessel was in distress on the south side of the harbour, and immediately thousands of persons made their way towards the Pier. To reach the Brigade Watch House was a matter of some difficulty on account of the sand being blown with cutting force against persons making the attempt. The members of the Volunteer Life Brigade mustered quickly after the firing of the guns, and found that a three-masted schooner was ashore close to the new ferry landing. A rocket was thrown over the vessel from the pier, but the line was blown away by the force of the gale. A second rocket was fired from the rocks, and the line was secured by the crew of the stranded vessel. The vessel proved to be the three-masted schooner Atlantic, of Laurvig, bound from Frederickshaven to the Tyne, laden with pit props. It appears that as she was being towed into the harbour she was struck by a heavy squall, when the tow-line broke, and she drove to the pier, about twenty yards to the westward of the new ferry landing. The whole of the crew, seven in number, were safely landed, and taken to the Brigade Watch House, where they were supplied with dry clothing and refreshments. There was pilot on board, and he was also saved, but his coble, which was towing astern, was carried away and lost. The vessel still remains intact, but her position is a critical one, inasmuch as she lies upon rocks, and is exposed to the full force of the gale. When the Atlantic struck a lifeboat put off, but the crew were unable to reach her.

During the storm a South Shields pilot coble named the Pilots was overtaken by a heavy squall when making for the Tyne. She was swamped, and her crew were drowned. Their names were—Thomas Young, John Ramsey, and Thomas Tindle (boy). Young was picked up before life was extinct, and conveyed to the Brigade House, where Crease, the hon. surgeon, was in readiness. The usual means for restoring animation were instantly put into operation, but without effect. The deceased was about 40 years of age, and lived at the Lawe Buildings, South Shields. Ramsey was an elderly man, and he also resided at the Lawe.
Damage has been done to the roof of the Brigade House, many of the slates having been blown off. The water comes in freely, and the place is rendered uncomfortable. The rooms in which the shipwrecked people are lodged, however, are quite tight, and no inconvenience is felt by the damage, Slates and tiles are strewn about the streets in all directions, and many persons have been struck, while others have had narrow escapes. The roof of the Scarbro' Spa public-house in King Street, South Shields, has sustained considerable damage, and the shop adjoining had to be closed consequence of the danger from falling debris. The roof of a private residence named Bleak House, at the corner of Ravensbourne Terrace and Shortridge Street, has been greatly damaged. A large bill-posting board in Ocean Road has been levelled to the ground, and a lamp-post adjoining has been damaged by the falling timber. From the time of the gale commencing rain has fallen heavily. At present there seems no prospect of an abatement of the storm.

Source Shields Daily Gazette 14th of October 1881